The Bronx

The Bronx
The Bronx performing on the Warped Tour in Chula Vista, California on August 14, 2008. Left to right: Joby J. Ford, Matt Caughthran, Jorma Vik, Brad Magers, and Ken Horne.
Background information
Also known as	Mariachi El Bronx
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Hardcore punk, hard rock, mariachi
Years active	2002–current
Labels	Island/Def Jam, White Drugs
Associated acts	The Drips, Sunday's Best
Website	www.thebronxxx.com
Members
Matt Caughthran Joby J. Ford Jorma Vik Ken Horne Brad Magers
Former members
James Tweedy

The Bronx is a hardcore punk band formed in 2002 in Los Angeles, California. They have released three eponymous albums, with the fourth, Mariachi El Bronx, released in September 2009.

History

The Bronx formed in 2002 in Los Angeles, California. The initial lineup of the band consisted of singer Matt Caughthran, guitarist Joby J. Ford, bassist James Tweedy, and drummer Jorma Vik.^[1] At their first performance they impressed Jonathan Daniel, manager of American Hi-Fi, who became their manager, and as early as their second show had attracted the attention of A&R representatives from major record labels.^[1] After only twelve live performances the band signed a contract with the Island Def Jam Music Group.^[1] However, feeling as though they were not yet ready to record for a major label, the band opted to form their own label White Drugs to put out their first few releases.^[1] They recorded a demo entitled Sure Death in 2002, followed by their first single "Bats!" in 2003. Their debut album The Bronx was released in August 2003, followed by the EP La Muerte Viva that November. To support the album, singles and music videos were released for the songs "They Will Kill Us All (Without Mercy)" and "False Alarm". The band toured the United States and Australia in support of the album.

The Bronx's major-label debut was The Bronx (2006), a second eponymous album that was supported by singles and music videos for "History's Stranglers", "White Guilt" and "Shitty Future". Ken Horne of The Dragons played some guitar parts on the album and soon joined the band as second guitarist.

In April 2007 the band announced that they would record two new albums, which like their first two albums will both be eponymously titled. The Bronx will be a punk rock album, while El Bronx will be a mariachi album.^[2] They entered a recording studio in March 2008 to begin work on both albums, with Brad Magers (formerly of Christiansen and Your Highness Electric), replacing Tweedy on bass guitar and Vincent Hidalgo (formerly of The Drips) also joining the group.^[3] That June they posted the new song "Knifeman", from The Bronx, on their Myspace profile,^[4] followed by the premier of "PR Rules" from El Bronx.^[5] In the Summer of 2008 The Bronx played the entirety of the Warped Tour.^[6] They also appeared in the film What We Do Is Secret as Black Flag, performing the Black Flag song "Police Story".^[7] In preparation for the release of El Bronx, the band has recently been performing as "Mariachi El Bronx" when playing their mariachi set and as "The Bronx" for rock sets.^[7] The Bronx was released on November 11, 2008^[8], with El Bronx scheduled to follow August 17, 2009. The band is currently on a tour of North America, to be followed by a festival performance in the United Kingdom.

Band members

Current members

• Matt Caughthran - vocals (2002 - present)
• Joby J. Ford - guitar, backing vocals (2002 - present)
• Jorma Vik - drums (2002 - present)
• Ken Horne - guitar, backing vocals (2006 - present)
• Brad Magers - bass guitar, backing vocals (2007 - present)

Past members

• James Tweedy - bass guitar, backing vocals (2002 - 2007)

Discography

Albums

• The Bronx (2003)
• The Bronx (2006)
• The Bronx (2008)
• Mariachi El Bronx (2009)

References

External links

• Official website
• The Bronx at MySpace
• The Bronx at Allmusic